The City of Fremantle has announced its first steps towards the reopening of facilities and services in line with the easing of state government COVID-19 restrictions.
The Fremantle Library and the customer service desk at the City’s administration building at Fremantle Oval will reopen on Monday 18 May.
The library will be open from 10am-5pm Monday to Friday and then normal hours on weekends. In accordance with state government guidelines library patrons will be limited to 20 people and the four square metre rule will be applied.
There will be access to loans and returns services, internet PCs, photocopying and printing services. The local history service will also be available but the Justice of the Peace service will not resume at this time.
The customer service desk will be open from 8am-5pm to answer queries, process applications and permits and accept EFTPOS payments.
For the safety of staff and customers temporary sneeze screens have been installed and hand sanitizers will be in place at the front counter and by the visitor sign-in kiosk. Staff and customers will also be asked to maintain physical distancing.
Public toilets and change rooms at Kings Square, the Esplanade Reserve, South Beach, Leighton Beach and Port Beach will be open from tomorrow.
From Friday 22 May all public toilets, showers, barbecues and drinking fountains will be reopened with an enhanced cleaning regime.
The Fremantle Community Legal Centre will reopen on Monday 25 May from 9am-4pm, but with limits on the number of people allowed into the office.
Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the cautious reopening of some City facilities was an important first step in Fremantle’s recovery from COVID-19.
“After all of the effort that’s been put in to restrict the spread of the virus the last thing we want is for the COVID-19 genie to get out of the bottle again so we have to be very careful to maintain our physical distancing and personal hygiene,” Mayor Pettitt said.
“But it’s very encouraging to be able to start opening things up and to see Freo get moving again.
“In addition to the reopening of the library and our customer service desk, City of Fremantle staff who’ve been working from home will start returning to the office from next week so that will also provide a boost to the local economy.
“A number of shops, cafes and restaurants around town are opening up again, and we’re still offering free on-street parking, so there’s never been a better time to come down and enjoy your favourite Freo spots.”
Further announcements about the reopening of other facilities like Fremantle Leisure Centre and Fremantle Arts Centre will be made in coming days.
